The Muppets: A brief history

Scott Garfield / Associated Press

Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzy Bear, Gonzo and the rest of Jim Henson's felt creations are back in movie theaters, courtesy of "Muppets Most Wanted," which picks up right where the successful 2011 reboot "The Muppets" left off. As the Muppets prepare to enter the next phase of their long, long careers -- Kermit has been around since 1955 -- it's helpful to look back at where they came from to appreciate just how far they've come.

Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzy Bear, Gonzo and the rest of Jim Henson's felt creations are back in movie theaters, courtesy of "Muppets Most Wanted," which picks up right where the successful 2011 reboot "The Muppets" left off. As the Muppets prepare to enter the next phase of their long, long careers -- Kermit has been around since 1955 -- it's helpful to look back at where they came from to appreciate just how far they've come. (Scott Garfield / Associated Press)

In 1955, University of Maryland student Jim Henson created a group of puppets for a children's show to air on local TV called "Sam and Friends." The cast of puppets, which Henson called muppets because they combined techniques of puppets and marionettes, included the earliest prototype of Kermit the Frog. The show ran for six years and made Henson a minor celebrity, with appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show" among others. When the show ended, Henson moved on to commercials.

In 1955, University of Maryland student Jim Henson created a group of puppets for a children's show to air on local TV called "Sam and Friends." The cast of puppets, which Henson called muppets because they combined techniques of puppets and marionettes, included the earliest prototype of Kermit the Frog. The show ran for six years and made Henson a minor celebrity, with appearances on "The Ed Sullivan Show" among others. When the show ended, Henson moved on to commercials. (Los Angeles Times archive)